Woodstock Magazine - Winter 2023

WOODSTOCK MAGAZINE

WINTER 2023–2024 | Volume 23, No. 4

W I N T E R 2 02 3 –2 024

Winter Wishes For Comfort & Joy BROWSE THE TREASURES AT R.T. HOME WARM YOUR HEARTH WITH GREEN MOUNTAIN FIREPLACE SPECIALTIES

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CONTENTS WINTER 2023‒2024

48 FEATURES

38

It’s All About Happy Fires

48

A Touch of Luxury in Woodstock

62

Going for a Globe

By Pamela Brown

Green Mountain Fireplace Specialties.

By Kate MacLean

Treat yourself to a visit to R.T. Home.

By Lisa Ballard

Ski racing on the international masters circuit takes a skier around the world.

38 ON THE COVER Robert Trizinsky of R.T. Home.

Photograph by Lynn Bohannon.

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CONTENTS

34 56

32 DEPARTMENTS

20 AROUND & ABOUT

70

By Cassie Horner

28 EVERYDAY ESSENTIALS Tips for healthy living.

Lift a glass to tradition.

By Cassie Horner

Building bridges in Woodstock.

15 EDITOR’S NOTE 16 CONTRIBUTORS 18 ONLINE EXCLUSIVES & BUSINESS DIRECTORY

32 SEASON’S BEST

34 PRESERVING HISTORY

IN EVERY ISSUE

56 WINE WATCH

By Corey Burdick

Cheers to the holidays!

70 GOOD NEIGHBORS

By Pamela Brown

Star light, star bright.

72 HAPPENINGS 79 ADVERTISERS INDEX 80 LAST GLANCE SPECIAL ADVERTISING SECTIONS

44

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Unique Shopping, Dining & Services In and Around Woodstock, Vermont It's Happening in the Mad River Valley Shop, Dine, and Explore Quechee this Winter

MOUNTAIN VIEW PUBLISHING, LLC 135 Lyme Road, Hanover, NH 03755 (603) 867-9339 greateruppervalley.com Publishers

Bob Frisch Cheryl Frisch Executive Editor

Deborah Thompson Associate Editor

Kristy Erickson Creative Director

Ellen Klempner-Beguin Art Director

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Bob Frisch

KEEP US POSTED Woodstock Magazine wants to hear from readers. Correspondence may be addressed to: Letters to the Editor, Woodstock Magazine, 135 Lyme Road, Hanover, NH 03755. Or email us at: dthompson@mountainviewpublishing.com.

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Woodstock Magazine is published quarterly by Mountain View Publishing, LLC ©2023-2024. All rights reserved.

Reproduction in whole or part is strictly prohibited. Woodstock Magazine accepts no responsibility for unsolicited manuscripts, artwork, or photographs.

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EDITORʼS NOTE

Your Local Hometown Insurance Agency

Winter Cheer

IAN RAYMOND

’T

is the season to bundle up and head out to enjoy skiing, sledding, and snowboarding. There’s no end to the fun wintertime activities around Woodstock bring, so make the most of the season while you can. We’ve packed this issue with valuable information and beautiful photography to keep you tuned in to what’s happening in the area.

Drop in to R.T. Home for unique gifts with an elegant twist (page 48).

Owner Robert Trizinsky has stocked the store with treasures you won’t be able to resist—for those on your shopping list or for yourself. Keep your family warm all winter long with a new or upgraded fireplace from Green Mountain Fireplace Specialties (page 38). With a wide selection of wood and gas fireplaces, woodstoves, and inserts, you’re sure to find the perfect choice for your home—just in time for the holidays.

Toast this special season with wine picks from Clay Hillgrove at Woodstock Beverage (page 56). Treat your friends to something new, and don’t forget a bottle of the bubbly for New Year’s Eve. Expecting guests? Mix up a batch of mulled wine or cider. We’ve given you the recipes on page 32. They’re easy to make, and the simmering spices will fill your home with a delicious aroma.

Nothing defines a calm, peaceful winter night quite like the star atop Mount Tom (page 70). It’s been guiding area residents home since 1957. Join your neighbors to help the Woodstock Rotary Club in their mission to replace the aging star with a modern version constructed of steel.

The estimated cost is $120,000, so pitch in and be part of this important community project.

Whether you’re traveling near or far to be with friends and family or they’re coming to you, the staff and I wish you a blessed holiday season. Merry Christmas! Enjoy!

Hull Maynard Hersey Insurance HOME

AUTO

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Jill Maynard Nolan 105 Center Street Rutland VT 05701 802-773-3000

Deborah Thompson Executive Editor dthompson@mountainviewpublishing.com

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CONTRIBUTORS

Lisa Ballard

A full-time freelance writer and photographer, Lisa is a graduate of Dartmouth College who resided in the Upper Valley for another 25 years. She is the author of 13 books, including Best Hikes with Dogs: New Hampshire and Vermont, Hiking the White Mountains, and Hiking the Green Mountains. She covers all types of travel, outdoor recreation, and conservation topics for over 25 magazines. www.LisaBallardOutdoors.com.

Lynn began her photographic career in Boston, studying at New England School of Photography, assisting commercial photographers and custom color printing. Originally from West Virginia, she made her way north, finally landing in the hills of Vermont, where she has been photographing for over 30 years. Her current assignments include photographing people, architecture, and art.

Lynn Bohannon

Pamela has been a journalist with Hearst Connecticut Media Group for 20 years, covering a wide spectrum of subjects, and has a monthly food column in Connecticut Magazine. When she steps away from the computer, Pamela enjoys vacationing in Woodstock, playing tennis, gardening, reading, and spending time with her beautiful daughter, Alexis, and adorable mini Goldendoodle, Rafa.

Pamela Brown

Corey Burdick

Corey is a writer who has spent decades pursuing her passion for all things food and wine. She is a graduate of Mount Holyoke College and holds a WSET Level 2 certification from the Vermont Wine School. When she isn’t writing or cooking up something delicious with locally sourced foods, you can find her exploring hiking spots and testing out the best vegan treats she can find. Her work has appeared in Edible Green Mountains, Edible Capital District, The Burlington Free Press, and Local Banquet Magazine.

Cassie is a writer, editor, and publisher and the author of a historical novel, Lucy E.—Road to Victory. Her roots in Vermont go back almost 200 years and inspire her love of the natural world and history. She lives in Plymouth, Vermont, with her husband and two dogs—an English Shepherd and a mini Dachshund.

Cassie Horner

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WINTER 2023–2024 | WOODSTOCK MAGAZINE 19

AROUND & ABOUT

By Cassie Horner

Abbott Library Programs

O

ne of the charming aspects of Pomfret village is the Abbott Memorial Library with its welcome entry steps inviting in the community. The building has an interesting history dating back to its construction in 1905 and its opening a year later in 1906. Judge Ira Abbott, a Supreme Court Justice in the territory of New Mexico, wanted to honor his parents Daniel and Deborah Abbott with a memorial in his hometown of Pomfret. He commissioned architect H.M. Francis to design the library, which was donated to Pomfret. The library, notable for its brick, granite, fieldstone, and prestressed concrete topped with a slate and decorative tile roof, is listed in the National Register of Historic Places.

Above: Library patrons gather on the front stairs.

Right: Doug Abbott tells a story during last winter's storytelling event.

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WINTER 2023–2024 | WOODSTOCK MAGAZINE 21

AROUND & ABOUT

Sue Heston, assistant librarian.

“The building itself, which has hardly changed and opened with approximately 2,000 books, now has ready access to library materials from anywhere in Vermont, as well as to the vast resources unleashed by the technology of today,” says trustee Mary Worrell. “The library has served as a social hub of Pomfret from the beginning and continues today with events scheduled throughout the year.”

The winter events this year kick off on December 5 with a poetry reading by

“The building itself, which has hardly changed and opened with approximately 2,000 books, now has ready access to library materials from anywhere in Vermont, as well as to the vast resources unleashed by the technology of today.”

— Mary Worrell, trustee

three Vermont poets and a visiting poet from Oklahoma. A highlight of December each year at the library is the Lantern Walk. Children pick up a lantern craft

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bag at the library and create their own lantern at home. On the day of the walk, kids and their families meet at the library for storytelling. Then around dusk they

WE DESIGN AND BUILD A CUSTOM SMILE FOR ANY AGE We Listen to your Priorities and Answer All Your Questions

Cory Smith, librarian.

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walk with their lanterns to the hillside above neighboring Artistree. In February, Valentine’s Day will be celebrated with special activities that include crafts and stories.

Ten years ago, a local resident started a storytelling event that runs twice annually at the library, in late winter and late summer. The storytelling is done in the style of The Moth Radio Hour.

There is a theme for the evening, and anyone who would like to share a fiveminute true, personal story without notes may sign up and put their name in the hat. Those inspired during the evening may also add their name to the hat. The winter 2024 storytelling carries on the popular tradition of a fun activity open to all ages. For more information about Abbott Memorial Library and its activities, visit abbott memoriallibrary.org.

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WINTER 2023–2024 | WOODSTOCK MAGAZINE 23

AROUND & ABOUT

Melodie Winawer

M

elodie Winawer of Woodstock is following an unusual dual career path. By day, she is a physician-scientist. In her “free” time she is a historical fiction author. She is also mom to three teenagers.

Melodie has been on the neurology faculty at Columbia University for 29 years and runs studies on epilepsy genetics. She moved to Woodstock with her wife and children in 2020. Her latest novel, published in 2021, is Anticipation, set in Mystras, Greece, once the capital of the Byzantine Empire. The book tells the story of a scientist’s vacation with her young son that turns dangerous when they encounter a man out of time.

“My life is a juxtaposition between my medical career and the fall into fiction,” Melodie says. Her quest is to answer the challenge of how to dedicate more of her life to fiction. “The best part is my different lives inspire one another. The worst part is it is so hard to find time to write.

I have so many stories in my head. I fly into the world of the unknown in my fiction.

“I started writing as a child,” Melodie says. “Pre-physically writing, I told stories out loud.” She was an only child until the age of nine so she peopled her world with her imagination, inventing a band of homeless kids in New York and a girl on an island with a whale for her friend.

In 11th grade, Melodie’s English teacher, Harry Bauld, inspired her with his advice “to write in the same natural

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“My life is a juxtaposition between my medical career and the fall into fiction. The best part is my different lives inspire one another. The worst part is it is so hard to find time to write. I have so many stories in my head.

I fly into the world of the unknown in my fiction.”

— Melodie Winawer, author

“I am so happy to be in another book,” she says. “It is set in Minoan Crete 3,500 years ago and is a big leap for me. I like to bend time. The story is about the mystery of a lost language that connects a modern archeology student to her past.”

For more information about Melodie and her writing, visit melodiewinawer.com.

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voice as when I speak. This was a huge influence on me.” Many years later, she met him in New York City after finishing her first novel. He connected her with

the person who became her editor. After 16 rejections, her novel The Scribe of Siena was published by Simon & Schuster.

“Writing a novel is like driving in a snowstorm in the dark,” Melodie observes. Writing Anticipation included a research trip to Greece with her family.

Visiting the abandoned city of Mystras “started the wheels turning. It is an incredibly mysterious city that once housed 20,000 people. Walking the streets, I felt the place was alive.”

Melodie is working on her third novel.

MELODIE WINAWER melodiewinawer.com

WINTER 2023–2024 | WOODSTOCK MAGAZINE 25

AROUND & ABOUT

The Hub

C

atastrophic weather events and the COVID health crisis put extra pressure on community members. Sometimes these disasters cause financial hardships that people struggle to overcome. The Hub, a project of the nonprofit Woodstock Community Trust, was founded to help alleviate some of these needs, both in ordinary times and during a community crisis. It is designed with a system of volunteer advocates who help people connect with the services they need from an array of community organizations.

“There is a quick response with having someone hear your story, assess the needs, and hold your hand through the process,” says volunteer Denise Lyons of the Hub. “We get feedback from people who say that having one person understand your needs is very empowering. During a

crisis, people feel overwhelmed and find it hard to make decisions, so support is important.”

The Hub is run with a leadership team of three volunteers, a part-time administrator (Marian Koetsier), and an advisory group. Funding comes from area foundations and individual donors. The project was launched in November 2022 as a follow-up to the Woodstock Area Relief Fund that was founded to address the pandemic and to the preceding community response fund created after the 2011 Tropical Storm Irene.

“Post-flood in July 2023, we received more than 80 applications,” Denise says.

“The need was intense.” People came for help because of lost wages and minor flood damage that could be helped with one grant. Yet about one-third of the applications were more complicated, involv-

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Above and below: Sustainable Woodstock volunteers assisted residents of the Riverside Mobile Park after the July 2023 flood. Photos by Alison Clarkson.

ing FEMA and a need for larger supplemental grants from the Hub. “People also need help during ordinary times, not just during a community crisis,” Denise says. “A setback such as a catastrophic illness can mean someone can’t pay their bills. Our mission is to make it easier for people in the community to get help when they need it. We’re a portal to other groups, such as faith institutions, the Ottauquechee Health Foundation, and Sustainable Woodstock.” The Hub

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serves the seven supervisory union towns, working with the towns’ assistance funds.

The Hub helps to expand people’s awareness of what types of help are available. For example, a food shelf client can be directed to the Hub to learn about other sources of assistance and also to fill out an application for help. Affordable housing issues have created greater living costs for some people, causing financial instability in households. The Hub helps by paying a rent or mortgage payment, a utility bill, or a car repair bill. “We pay bills,” Denise explains. “We help people so they don’t fall into a worse situation.”

People who need help and people who want to contribute funds can get contact and other information at woodstock communitytrust.org.

The Hub helped to fund Sustainable Woodstock’s work at the mobile park. Photo by Jenevra Wetmore.

WOODSTOCK COMMUNITY TRUST

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WINTER 2023–2024 | WOODSTOCK MAGAZINE 27

EVERYDAY ESSENTIALS Tips for Healthy Living

Expect the Best, Plan for the Worst

T

his advice rings especially true in winter. Whether you enjoy hiking, skiing, snowshoeing, or just playing in the snow, always be prepared for the weather to take a turn and bring everything you’ll need to stay warm and safe. L.L.Bean offers this handy list: • Warm, waterproof layers • Weatherproof/waterproof jacket or coat • Mittens or gloves • Wool or synthetic socks • Winter/hiking boots (weather-ready footwear with good traction) • Hydration • Snacks They also recommend knowing the skill needed for whatever activity you’re doing as well as the skills of the people going with you. Be sure to always let someone know where you’re going and when you expect to return.

The Latest on COVID

S

DID YOU KNOW? Feeling wiped out for 24, 48, or even 72 hours may be a signal of COVID.

ymptoms of COVID-19 have shifted this season and now resemble those of allergies and the common cold, experts report. Many people with COVID-19 are now presenting with upper respiratory symptoms like a runny nose, watery eyes, and a sore throat. A key factor that may signal COVID is having fatigue along with these symptoms—feeling wiped out for 24, 48, or even 72 hours. While the virus appears to be somewhat less severe, doctors warn against taking COVID lightly—hospitalizations have increased in many parts of the country, and the virus remains particularly dangerous for people with existing health issues, older people, and anyone who has a compromised immune system. If you’re experiencing upper respiratory symptoms along with severe fatigue, it’s worth getting tested.

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About 80% of older Americans have hypertension.

Add 3,000 Steps a Day for Heart Health

A

bout 80 percent of older Americans have hypertension, and keeping blood pressure within a healthy range helps protect against heart failure, heart attacks, and stroke. Research finds that, for sedentary adults, adding just 3,000 extra steps per day can help significantly lower blood pressure—and the intensity and amount of time walking don’t matter as much as simply increasing the number of steps.

Researchers focused on a group of sedentary 68- to 78-year-olds who walked about 4,000 steps per day.

By adding 3,000 steps, participants’ systolic and diastolic blood pressure decreased by seven and four points, respectively. Other studies suggest this decrease corresponds to an 11 percent reduction in the risk of premature death from all causes and 16 percent for heart-related causes; an 18 percent lower risk of heart disease; and a 36 percent lower risk for stroke. “It’s exciting that a simple lifestyle intervention can be just as effective as structured exercise and some medications,” says study coauthor Elizabeth Lefferts.

WINTER 2023–2024 | WOODSTOCK MAGAZINE 29

EVERYDAY ESSENTIALS

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id you know that singing individually and in groups is good for your health? Singing reduces stress levels by lowering cortisol, stimulates the immune response, improves lung function, and increases the amount of oxygen in the blood. It also helps improve mood and well-being, fosters a sense of social connection, and may even enhance memory in people with dementia. On December 15, join the community in song or simply enjoy some familiar tunes at BarnArts’ presentation of Winter Carols at the First Universalist Church of Barnard. Sing along for good health and good cheer!

For more information, visit barnarts.org.

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Singing reduces stress & improves mood.

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Light a Candle

T

he cold, the darkness, the snow . . . it can all get to be a bit much, especially come February.

Survive the winter chill by creating a comforting atmosphere that evokes some of the best parts of the season, like the smell of pine trees, peppermint, or sugar cookies and the warm glow of a flame. It is scientifically proven that lighting a scented candle can have a positive effect on your mood, stress level, and overall mental health. It can help ease anxiety and promote relaxation. Woody’s Mercantile and Farmhouse Pottery in Woodstock offer a variety of handcrafted candles that smell divine and would be a beautiful addition to you home—a perfect treat to help get through the rest of winter.

Make Time for Play!

L

ooking for a fun and simple way to help your child do better in school? A new study examining two-parent households with a mother and father finds that kids do better in elementary school when their fathers regularly spend time reading, playing, drawing, singing, and telling stories with them. While fathers had an impact on educational achievement, mothers had more impact on kids’ emotional and social behaviors, the study found. Fathers and mothers tend to engage with their kids in different ways, which provide unique and complementary benefits. Study authors note that this could provide guidance for further research on single-parent and same-sex households.

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SEASON'S BEST

Lift a Glass to Tradition

Mulling spices turn cider or wine into a tasty treat

A

s you celebrate this holiday season, try heating cider or wine with a few common spices to create a warming and tasty drink. Mulled means simply to heat, sweeten, and flavor a beverage with spices. If you’re confused about the difference between mulled or spiced cider and wassail, don’t be.

Both mulled cider and wassail are spiced juice drinks. While wassail is traditionally a warm spiced apple drink, other mulled ciders may contain cranberry or other flavors. Why not celebrate Wassail Weekend this year by making your own?

If you have any of your recipe left over, it will keep in the refrigerator for three to five days. To enjoy it again, simply reheat in the microwave or in a saucepan.

Spiced Cider

Mulled Wine

1 gallon apple juice or apple cider

1 bottle (750 ml) of dry red wine

½ cup brown sugar

¼ cup brandy (or orange liqueur)

½ cup frozen orange juice concentrate

1 orange, sliced into rounds

1 orange, sliced into rounds

8 whole cloves

2 tsp whole cloves

2 cinnamon sticks

2 tsp whole allspice (or 1 tsp ground)

2 star anise

3 cinnamon sticks

2–4 Tbsp sugar, honey, or maple syrup to taste

1 tsp ground nutmeg

Optional garnishes: citrus slices (orange, lemon, and/or lime), extra cinnamon sticks, extra star anise

1

Mix apple juice, brown sugar, and orange juice concentrate in a Dutch oven or other large pot.

2 3 4

Add orange slices and spices; stir to combine.

Heat just to boiling, then reduce to low and steep for 1 hour.

Using a fine-mesh strainer, remove and discard the orange slices, cloves, allspice, and cinnamon sticks.

1

Add wine, brandy, orange slices, cloves, cinnamon, star anise, and 2 tablespoons sweetener to a large saucepan. Stir briefly to combine.

2

Cook the mulled wine on medium-high heat until it just barely reaches a simmer. (Avoid letting it bubble or boil.) Reduce heat to low, cover, and simmer for at least 15 minutes or up to 3 hours.

3

Using a fine-mesh strainer, remove and discard the orange slices, cloves, cinnamon sticks, and star anise.

Taste and stir in extra sweetener if needed.

4

Serve warm in heatproof mugs topped with your favorite garnishes.

TIP

You can also place the oranges, cloves, allspice, and cinnamon sticks in a piece of cheesecloth. Then simply pull out the bundle when ready to serve.

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WINTER 2023–2024 | WOODSTOCK MAGAZINE 33

PRESERVING HISTORY

Building Bridges in Woodstock

Crossing the Ottauquechee River over the years

By Cassie Horner Photos courtesy of the Woodstock History Center

L

ike many Vermont villages and towns, Woodstock was built up around a river. The proximity to water provided a variety of needs ranging from hydropower for mills to keeping crops and farm animals hydrated.

Of course, rivers also had be crossed, and, in the case of the Ottauquechee River’s winding path through Woodstock, the initial method involved the use of fording places. While those worked, it quickly became apparent that a bridge would be more efficient. At the March 1779 town meeting, this idea of building a bridge was considered but not acted on until April 1782. Five more years passed, though, when, with Woodstock’s being named a shire town and a courthouse built, having a bridge became almost mandatory.

A SLOW AND SHAKY START More debating, tax raising, and dallying ensued. Finally, in March 1791, the committee charged with bridge building was ready to give a report. According to Henry Swan Dana in his

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Top: View of Marble Bridge with buildings on Church Street and College Hill in the background.

Above: Pulling Woodstock’s Middle Bridge across the Ottauquechee River on wooden cribbing.

At the March 1779 town meeting, this idea of building a bridge was considered but not acted on until April 1782. Five more years passed, though, when, with Woodstock’s being named a shire town and a courthouse built, having a bridge became almost mandatory.

Top: Early view of the Marble Bridge before the exterior pedestrian walk was added.

Above: View of the Ottauquechee River and Marble Bridge (looking from west to east).

1889 History of Woodstock, Vermont, the first bridge, built near the current site of the Middle Bridge, was “a weak and imperfect structure. It had no abutments but was supported on trestles and was quite long. Moreover, the bed of the river at this point was precipitous and the

current rough . . . Hardly was it finished and put to use before there was a call for repairs.”

This factor instigated some squabbling among residents; Dana recounts how people fought over who should pay for repairs. Arguments revolved around residents’ varying contentions about who really used the bridge, with the opinion raised that the people who lived nearest the bridge should pay more since they got the most use of it.

This location has been the site of seven different styles. From 1850 to 1869, a covered bridge spanned the river. Beginning in 1877, a “modern” elegant iron bridge marked the spot until it was condemned and replaced in 1969 by Milton Graton, a covered bridge expert.

MORE CONVENIENT CROSSINGS The Ottauquechee River’s meandering path among houses, churches, and businesses called for multiple bridges in WINTER 2023–2024 | WOODSTOCK MAGAZINE 35

PRESERVING HISTORY

Iron Middle Bridge that predated Woodstock’s current wooden covered bridge.

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Woodstock Village. In addition to the much-photographed Middle Bridge are two structures, including the long bridge near what was once a mill and is now the Recreation Center and the iron bridge that connects River Street to Elm Street.

All three bridges offer people convenient crossings.

The Recreation Center Bridge once looked very different. Known as the Marble Bridge, it was a covered bridge that served travelers for almost 100 years.

It linked Woodstock to the western approach of stagecoaches and other vehicles. By 1944, it had outlived its usefulness and was replaced by a noncovered structure. In 2007, it was again significantly rehabilitated.

The Elm Street Bridge, like the others, had multiple incarnations. The first at this site was erected in 1797, followed by at least seven others until 1870. The first bridge was acquired by the Royalton and Woodstock Turnpike Company, which

had to rebuild six times between 1801 and 1841. At least three were taken by high water, while others yielded to rot.

REBUILDING CONTINUES A big change took place after the October 1869 town meeting when townspeople voted to levy taxes for a modern bridge made of iron at the site. This

structure, built by Blodgett and Curry of National Bridge and Iron Works of Boston, was opened to traffic in 1870. It is an elegant construction of wrought and cast iron with stone abutments and wooden sidewalks. Its style and practicality reflect the changes inspired by the Industrial Revolution in the United States. In 1980, it was rehabilitated to be stronger but still

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Circa 1944 view of a new bridge being built to replace the covered Marble Bridge, which stands in the background.

retains its 19th-century charm.

The bridges in Woodstock Village that span the Ottauquechee River still retain their fascination for visitors and residents. Weather is always a big factor. The drama of this century’s storms matches the “great flood” in October 1869 when a covered bridge in Woodstock was, according to Dana, “swept away . . . and lodged on an island in the river.” The Lincoln Covered Bridge in West Woodstock, which dates to 1877, was severely damaged by a spring ice jam a few years ago and had to be painstakingly repaired.

The iron bridge further west of that bridge was taken out by flooding during Tropical Storm Irene in 2011 and never replaced. Our awe of the Ottauquechee River and how to cross it continues.

WOODSTOCK HISTORY CENTER

woodstockhistorycenter.org

Monday - Saturday 7:30am - 5:00pm Sunday 8:30am- 4:00pm cafe closes at 2:00pm

WINTER 2023–2024 | WOODSTOCK MAGAZINE 37

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It’s All About

Happy Fires Green Mountain Fireplace Specialties

By Pamela Brown | Photography by Lynn Bohannon

M

ost people are triple threats, but Green Mountain Fireplace Specialties is a quadruple threat, offering skill and expertise in sales, design, construction, and consulting for new fireplace projects and makeovers. “We are full service and handle the entire project.

We’re really immersed in the process. We stay involved,” says Arnie Campney, principal and project manager of the well-known fireplace store and design center in Ludlow, Vermont. “Our main goal is to tune in to what people are looking for.”

WINTER 2023–2024 | WOODSTOCK MAGAZINE 39

Above left: Gas and wood fireplace inserts.

Above: Hearthstone woodstove display.

The business provides homeowners and contractors with high-quality products and exceptional workmanship. “We offer a one-stop shop shopping experience for superior design and construction of both indoor and outdoor fireplaces and specialty hearth accessories. It runs the gamut and is dynamic. It’s helpful for people to have that one-stop shop, and we perform at each level in a high-quality consistent way,” he says. The showroom offers vignettes of various products, including fireplaces and stoves, custom mantels, glass doors, stonework, and accessories, such as tools, screens, bellows, grates, and more. Green Mountain also designs and installs custom indoor and outdoor kitchens and fire pits.

Above, from left: Arnold Campney, Peggy Campney, and Mason Campney.

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THE HEART OF THE HOME “A fireplace or a fire feature is a luxury item—it’s something people choose because it evokes a certain emotion or even a nostalgic pull. The hearth is the heart of the home where people gather to

Above: There are many varieties of stone samples to consider.

Right: Town & Country gas fireplace with stone veneer is on display.

catch up, and people still need that kind of closeness. Fire is warm and mesmerizing and causes people to feel relaxed.

People want to embrace it and include it in their homes,” says Arnie.

He continues, “What’s cool about the hearth industry is it’s evolved where there are more options available—traditional wood fireplaces, propane, and electric. Wood-burning fireplaces are making a comeback to supplement a homeowner’s gas or oil heat, but electronic products are now trending. Some people want a fire pit on their deck or are building a home and want to create a focal point with a stone fireplace. There’s always something available for anybody.

Budgets can span the gamut, but everyone can afford to have a fire feature in their home these days.”

A CARING TEAM Opening their Ludlow showroom in 2018, the business, featured on Discovery/Magnolia Network’s Building Off

“A fireplace or a fire feature is a luxury item— it’s something people choose because it evokes a certain emotion or even a nostalgic pull. The hearth is the heart of the home where people gather to catch up, and people still need that kind of closeness. Fire is warm and mesmerizing and causes people to feel relaxed.”

— Arnie Campney, principal and project manager

WINTER 2023–2024 | WOODSTOCK MAGAZINE 41

Arnie Answers

WHY SHOULD EVERY HOME HAVE A FIREPLACE?

A home should be a place for people to gather and enjoy each other’s company, and a fireplace is a great place to make that happen.

MOST HELPFUL FIREPLACE ACCESSORY?

Glass doors on a wood-burning fireplace create a more efficient fireplace because as the fire burns down, the damper stays open and allows cold air in. Glass doors will stop this and also hide the ash mess.

FAVORITE BOOK TO READ BY A FIRE?

Books on personal growth.

MOST MEMORABLE PROJECT?

Renovation of the Norman Williams Public Library in Woodstock.

We took the front of the building to the ground and rebuilt the whole front but we also added some modern elements to the structure. It was immersive, challenging, and most rewarding.

WHAT’S THE BEST WAY TO MAKE A FIREPLACE THE FOCAL POINT OF A ROOM?

Light a fire! Without a fire it’s just a decoration. Or reface it with a nice mantel to bring it to life.

FAVORITE FOOD TO COOK IN YOUR OUTDOOR KITCHEN?

Barbecue. It’s very interesting and fun to cook on a barbecue grill powered by wood pellets.

WHY IS IT GREAT TO BE A BUSINESS IN LUDLOW?

It’s a small and tight-knit community with a good, vibrant business community. People care about the economy and the environment and are really dedicated to keeping Ludlow in good shape business-wise. It’s fun to be part of the Ludlow family where everybody cares about everybody else.

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Renaissance Uptown 600 fireplace with stone veneer, along with wood and gas stoves on display.

the Grid, is a family affair. “We’re a good team and work well together,” says Arnie of his wife, Peggy, principal and operating officer, and their sons, Mason, sales manager, and Zachary, lead installer. “It presents certain challenges, but at the same time everybody feels a commitment to the process. I hear from our customers, and they comment on our professionalism and the respect our people have for their homes, and they’re impressed with the quality of the work we do and the fact that the people who work for us care about what we’re doing.”

Previously, Arnie was a mason for 45 years who owned the largest masonry construction company in southern Vermont. That combined construction and masonry experience serves him well. “I can parlay that expertise into a complete package for people. I make site visits and meet with builders and cultivate relationships with them, the masons, and everyone involved. I can see around the corners that a lot of people can’t because they don’t have that insight. I can bridge the gap between the homeowner, the

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contractor, and our team. That helps us be unique,” says Arnie. Renovation of existing fireplaces comprises a large portion of the business, along with more new-construction high-end custom projects, large homes in Vermont where Green Mountain Fireplace Specialties is designing and installing two to three fire features.

“It’s fun to do that kind of work. It’s very challenging but very rewarding.

It’s multifaceted. It’s dynamic and everchanging. We’re having a good time right now.”

GREEN MOUNTAIN FIREPLACE SPECIALTIES

57 Pond Street, Okemo Marketplace Ludlow, VT (802) 975-0626 gmfireplace.com

Ottauquechee Health Foundation Providing Health and Wellness Financial Assistance for over 25 years.

30 Pleasant Street/PO Box 784 Woodstock, VT (802) 457-4188 donate online: www.ohfvt.org info@ohfvt.org WINTER 2023–2024 | WOODSTOCK MAGAZINE 43

Unique Shopping, Dining, and Services

Au Comptoir

Clover Gift Shop

Village Bar

4 Mechanic Street Woodstock, VT (802) 299-5435 www.aucomptoirvt.com Wed–Mon 3–10pm

10 Elm Street Woodstock, VT (802) 457-2527 @clovergiftshop Gifts–Home Decor–Apothecary

37 Central Clothiers

Sleep Woodstock Motel

Woodstock’s Unexpected Motel 4324 W Woodstock Road, Woodstock, VT (802) 332-6336 www.sleepwoodstock.com reservations@sleepwoodstock.com

37 Central Street Woodstock, VT (802) 457-9300 @37centralclothiers

Frameworks Studio of Woodstock 63 Pleasant Street Barn Woodstock, VT (802) 356-5235 Open Tue–Sat Celebrating 15 years!

Barnard Inn Restaurant

Prix Fixe & A La Carte Menus Private Catering, Weddings & Events 5518 Vermont Route 12 Barnard, VT (802) 234-9961 www.barnardinn.com Instagram–barnardinnrestaurant

HOME. GIFT. FUN.

Mon Vert Cafe 28 Central Street Woodstock, VT (802) 457-7143 www.monvertcafe.com

Woody’s Mercantile

7 Central Street Woodstock, VT (802) 457-1600 www.woodysmercantile.com @woodysmercantile

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The Prince and The Pauper 24 Elm Street Woodstock, VT (802) 457-1818 www.princeandpauper.com Cheers to 49 years!

In and Around Woodstock, Vermont

FH Gillingham & Sons 16 Elm Street Woodstock, VT (802) 457-2100 www.gillinghams.com Mon–Sat 8:30am–5pm Sun 10am–4pm

The Woodstocker Bed & Breakfast 61 River Street Woodstock, VT (802) 457-3896 www.TheWoodstockerBnB.com

Unicorn 15 Central Street Woodstock, VT (802) 457-2480 www.unicornvt.com Mon–Fri 9:30am–5pm Sat 9:30am–5:30pm Sun 10:30am–4:30pm

Actively purchasing Rolex and other high grade watches.

NT Ferro Jewelers 11 Central Street Woodstock, VT (802) 457-1901 www.ntferro.com Mon–Sat 10am–4:30pm Closed Sun

The Village Inn of Woodstock & The Vic Tavern “We’re the pink one!”

41 Pleasant Street Woodstock, VT (802) 457-1255 www.villageinnofwoodstock.com Mon, Tue, Thu, Fri 5–8pm

Deirdre Donnelly

~ jewelry inspired by Irish symbols 5 The Green Woodstock, VT Text: (802) 230-7705 www.deirdredonnelly.com

The Vermont Horse Country Store

5331 South Road, Route 106 South Woodstock, VT (802) 457-HORS (4677) www.vermonthorsecountry.com TheStore@vthorseco.com Always available. Please call (802) 356-6748 anytime.

Collective–The Art of Craft 47 Central Street Woodstock, VT (802) 457-1298 www.collective-theartofcraft.com Please visit our website for current days and hours of operation

R.T. Home 43 Central Street Woodstock, VT (802) 457-5700 Mon–Sat 10am–5pm Sun 12–4pm

WINTER 2023–2024 | WOODSTOCK MAGAZINE 45

Enjoy Woodstock this Winter

Woodstock Scoops

Woodstock Recreation Center

Soulfully Good Café

Maple Creemees Locally made Ice Cream, Shakes, Sundaes & More!

20 Central Street Woodstock, VT woodstockscoops.com

54 River Street Woodstock, VT (802) 457-1502 www.woodstockrec.com

67 Central Street Woodstock, VT (802) 457-7395 Soulfullygood.com

Pizza Chef

Red Wagon Toy Co.

506 On The River Inn

Route 4 Woodstock, VT (802) 457-1444 Sun–Thu 11am–9pm Fri & Sat 11am–10pm

41 Central Street Woodstock, VT (802) 457-9300 www.redwagontoy.com @redwagontoyco

1653West West Woodstock Woodstock Road 1653 Road Woodstock, VT Woodstock, VT (802) 457-5000 (802) 457-5000 www.ontheriverwoodstock.com

www.ontheriverwoodstock.com

Splendid Bakes

The Yankee Bookshop

Union Arena

4 The Green Woodstock, VT (781) 267-5015 www.splendidbakesbybanks.com Mon–Sat 11am–5pm

12 Central Street Woodstock, VT (802) 457-2411 www.yankeebookshop.com @yankeebookshop

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80 Amsden Way Woodstock, VT (802) 457-2500 www.unionarena.org On Facebook @unionarenacc

You are not alone.

domestic violence • sexual assault • stalking

Evans Paintings Studio & Gallery 65 Central Street Woodstock, VT (802) 457-4956 www.chipevansprints.com

We’re here for you. every hour, every day 866-348-WISE chat online at wiseuv.org WISE advocates are here for the Upper Valley every hour, every day.

We are completely confidential and survivor-centered. We can answer your questions, help you find resources, navigate systems, and support you as you think through what you want next for your life.

Call the crisis line or chat with us online.

follow us @WISEuv

Splendid Chaos 58 Pleasant Street Woodstock, VT (802) 457-7084 www.splendidchaosvt.com Open Tue–Sat

Come visit our new Candy store Open 7 days a week 10am-5pm At Quechee Gorge Village WINTER 2023–2024 | WOODSTOCK MAGAZINE 47

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A Touch of Luxury in Woodstock Treat yourself to a visit to R.T. Home

By Kate MacLean | Photography by Lynn Bohannon

WINTER 2023–2024 | WOODSTOCK MAGAZINE 49

ushing open the tall, hefty door of R.T. Home in Woodstock is to be instantly transported into the aesthetic world of shop owner Robert Trizinsky.

Upon entering, every sense is immediately called forth. On this day, an Italian opera is playing in the background, and the room is gently perfumed by a fragrant candle, creating a warm welcome. The table in the center of the room is layered with kitchen linens, books, and stationery in an attractive display. Robert helps a customer, while others take it all in and get lost amongst the abundant landscape.

R.T. Home is a floor-to-ceiling invitation for any shopper. It exudes the feeling of a stately manor from the past and brings to mind a line from a Zadie Smith novel: “This house wore silk and gold and velvet like a woman.” There are piles of Turkish rugs and giant blue-and-white Chinese vases displayed on shelves. Antique prints and oil paintings in wooden frames line the walls. Armfuls of dried flowers give a burst of texture and drama to the still-life tableau of modern home goods on the tables below.

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Above: Owner Robert Trizinsky.

Opposite: An array of delightful gifts includes candles, napkins, mugs, and pillows.

R.T. Home is a floor-toceiling invitation for any shopper. It exudes the feeling of a stately manor from the past and brings to mind a line from a Zadie Smith novel: “This house wore silk and gold and velvet like a woman.”

WINTER 2023–2024 | WOODSTOCK MAGAZINE 51

GOING ALL OUT FOR THE HOLIDAYS There is very little downtime in downtown Woodstock, though Robert concedes mud season is the slowest it gets. The time between Thanksgiving and the New Year might be his favorite of the many bustling seasons. Robert says Woodstock offers the

Above and opposite: Touches for an elegant holiday season are displayed among blue-and-white Chinese hand-painted porcelains. The pieces are made in 100- to 200-year-old factories and are still painted in the traditional style.

“quintessential New England Christmas” and it even rivals leaf-peeping season for his busiest time of year.

He loves the store being “overdone,” he says. His windows are a point of pride every year, with some of his customers taking their family photo in front of them. The Christmas window experience is rare in Vermont, and Robert—inspired by the Christmas windows of his former city life—likes to go all out.

“For six weeks,” Robert says, “we embody Christmas. It adds to the excitement.” Every year he has a new theme and changes the store “soup to nuts.”

Last year was a rustic, Jackson Hole–style theme with “lots of antlers.” To experience this year’s theme, it’s well worth a visit to R.T. Home for yourself to step into the magical, old-world Christmas that Robert has created in Woodstock.

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A SHOP OF HIS OWN Robert spent summers and vacations in Woodstock with his family on and off since the 1970s.

He opened R.T. Home in 2014 and is coming up on a decade on Central Street. Robert has worked in retail his whole life and had always wanted to open a shop of his own. Before becoming one of Woodstock’s beloved shop owners, Robert worked in private retail for the wealthy residents of Greenwich, Connecticut, decorating their houses and even their boats and planes.

Robert relishes being his own boss and works seven days a week at the store. Asked if he ever takes any time off, Robert laughs in the way most people who own businesses do. He does manage to take some time away from the store for buying trips, a topic that fills his eyes with delight.

He attends auctions and antique shows all around New England and New York. To get some of the newer treasures from abroad, he relies on connections from former colleagues. A friend sourced the Turkish rugs on a recent buying trip.

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R.T. HOME

43 Central Street Woodstock, VT (802) 457-5700

His windows are a point of pride every year, with some of his customers taking their family photo in front of them.

WINTER 2023–2024 | WOODSTOCK MAGAZINE 53

It’s Happening in the Mad River Valley

Stephanie Grace Ceramics

Salt & Sand Studios

Mad River Green Shopping Center 101 Mad River Green Waitsfield, VT www.stephaniegraceceramics.com @stephaniegraceceramics.com Wed–Sat 8am–4pm

Glassblowing Classes

Vermont-Based Natural-Fiber Clothing Brand

3955 VT Route 100 Warren, VT (802) 583-2559 www.saltandsandstudios.com

102 Mad River Green Waitsfield, VT (802) 498-3266 www.producttt.com

Addison West

Whippletree Designs

Barrie Fisher Photo + Gallery

Goods for Home + Life Home • Gift • Kitchen • Books • Interiors 5275 Main Street (Route 100) Waitsfield, VT (802) 528-7980 www.theaddisonwest.com @theaddisonwest Open 7 days a week

104 Mad River Green Waitsfield, VT (802) 496-9694 www.whippletreedesigns.com @whippletreedesigns

Product Think Tank

Fine Art Customized to Your Home Decor and Lifestyle 182 Mad River Green Waitsfield, VT (802) 777-5665 (LOOK) www.bfisherphoto.com office@bfisherphoto.com Call for an appointment

Inklings Children’s Books

5th Quarter Butcher Shop

The Collection

106 Mad River Green Waitsfield, VT (802) 496-7280 @inklingschildrensbooks

5275 Mad River Green Waitsfield, VT (802) 496-3165 x1 info@5thquartervt.com @5thquartervt

110 Mad River Green Waitsfield, VT (802) 496-6055 Tue–Thu 9:30am–5pm Fri 9:30am–5:30pm Sat 9:30am–4pm, Sun 11am–3pm

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A Great Place to Visit

The Mad Rover

Art in the Village

Someday Boutique

270 Main Street Warren, VT (802) 496-5605 Wed–Mon 10am–4pm, Closed Tue

40 Bridge Street Waitsfield, VT (802) 496-9946 Mon–Sat 11am–5pm Sun 11am–3pm Closed Tue

Artisans’ Gallery

Finery by Sasha Walsh

4orty Bridge Boutique

20 Bridge Street Waitsfield, VT (802) 496-6256 www.vtartisansgallery.com

4403 Main Street Suite 207 Waitsfield, VT www.fineryvt.com hello@sashawalsh.com Wed–Sat 11am–5pm

4403 Main Street Waitsfield, VT (802) 583-4022 www.4ortybridgeboutique.com

Moosewalk Studios & Gallery

The Local: Wine & Beer

Salt & Sand Studios

200 Orion Road Warren, VT (802) 583-2224 www.moosewalkstudios.com

961 US Route 2 Middlesex, VT (802) 613-3794 www.thelocalvt.com Sat–Thu 9am–6pm, Fri 9am–7pm

3955 VT Route 100 Warren, VT (802) 583-2559 www.saltandsandstudios.com

Lifestyle Outdoor Apparel 5523 Main Street Waitsfield, VT (802) 496-2500 www.themadrover.com @themadrovervt

Made in Vermont

Glassblowing Classes

WINTER 2023–2024 | WOODSTOCK MAGAZINE 55

WINE WATCH

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Cheers to the

Holidays!

Expert Wine Selections for Your Seasonal Gatherings

By Corey Burdick

W

hether you look forward to or dread the transition from the subtle chill of late fall into the calm of Vermont winter, gathering with others during this time of year, hopefully in a bustling kitchen, can be a balm. As appetizers and main dishes are created and new and old recipes take shape, wine pairings can elevate it all. But where to start?

Let Clay Hillgrove, proprietor of Woodstock Beverage, be your guide. Clay worked at Woodstock Beverage for three years before taking over the business four years ago. Prior to his current endeavor, he was the buyer at the Quechee Club and launched the private wine locker program.

When you walk into Woodstock Beverage, you can be confident in the selections of both wine and beer you’ll find, each one carefully chosen

by Clay.

“The wines are either great expressions of their varietal or I like how they have been crafted,” Clay says. “I have a relationship with all the wines in my shop. They are not just a product on the shelf. Many people say my store could compete with the big boys in the big cities!” Without further ado, here are Clay’s top picks.

WHITES The Paring Chardonnay ($22.99) from Santa Barbara County, California, is barrel aged in neutral French oak, new French oak, and stainless steel. According to Clay, this is “not an oak bomb, but instead, well balanced with rich minerality.” Interestingly, the winemaker Matt Dees graduated from the University of Vermont with a degree in soil science and has produced vintages in California as well as New Zealand. He launched Paring in 2006.

“I have a relationship with all the wines in my shop.

They are not just a product on the shelf. Many people say my store could compete with the big boys in the big cities!”

— Clay Hillgrove, Woodstock Beverage

WINTER 2023–2024 | WOODSTOCK MAGAZINE 57

WINE WATCH

The Frog’s Leap Napa Valley Sauvignon Blanc ($25.99) is a perfect example of what this varietal can do when given the proper conditions. The wine is produced from certified organically grown grapes from their estate vineyards in Rutherford. Fun fact: John Williams, the owner/winemaker, is originally a potato farmer from Upstate New York.

Sometimes California sauvignon blanc

can lean toward the oaky side, but not so here. Hints of grapefruit and crisp acidity round out this lovely white.

Perhaps you have tried Adelsheim Vineyard’s famed Pinot Noir, but did you know they also have an equally sumptuous chardonnay ($25.99)? Produced in the Chehalem Mountains of the Willamette Valley of Oregon, Adelsheim is on the cutting edge of making white wine in the region and is a live certified sustainable winery. This wine has apple notes and hints of baking spice as well as a subtle richness. A clean minerality lingers at the finish.

The Planeta Etna Bianco ($25.99) hails from Sicily and is made from a grape you may not have tried called Carricante. This one is from the Montelaguardia vineyard. The grapes are hand harvested and the palate is fresh with floral elements and tons of minerality.

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Remaining in Europe for Clay’s final white selection, try this sauvignon blanc from France. The Pascal Jolivet Sancerre ($28.99) is a manually harvested wine and vinified 100 percent in stainless-steel tanks lending the wine a crisp and bright acidity, making it perfect for light fish such as sole or halibut.

REDS Looking for a wine that’s both organic and vegan? Reach for the Paul Dolan Cabernet Sauvignon ($21.99) from Mendocino County, California. The color is a lovely ruby red and the aroma entices with cherries and blackberry. The characteristic oak tannin and spice that one expects from a cabernet can be experienced on first sip. This wine is well balanced while not being too jammy.

The Ridge 3 Valleys ($21.99) is primarily a zinfandel blend out of Sonoma County with a touch of Petite Sirah, Carignane, Mataro, and a smidge of Ali-

COMMUNITY. STAND FOR IT. When we come together as a community, we become something greater than ourselves.

THE STANDING MOUNTAIN

saskadenasix.com

EST 1936

cante Bouschet Carignan. The wine has aromas of ripe berries and spice and is medium bodied. As the name suggests, this wine represents the three distinctive vineyards from which the grapes are sourced. Hand harvesting ensures the best fruit is used in its production.

Clay notes, “This is possibly the best deal in the store. It drinks like wine costing $90 a bottle.”

The Anne Amie Two Estates Pinot Noir ($27.99) out of Oregon is a classic presentation of the style from this region, as Clay notes, “delicate, but with some grip.” According to the Ridge website, the wine is aged in French oak for 16 months, spends another 10 in neutral French oak, and is then bottle aged for 12 months prior to release.

With aromas and flavors of blackberries and cola, this wine would pair perfectly with a rack of grilled lamb.

M oving to European picks, the Famille Perrin Coudoulet de Beaucastel ($27.99) is an organic French blend of grenache, mourvèdre, cinsault, and syrah. Manual harvesting and sixmonth oak aging deepen the flavors of this beautiful wine produced from 25-year-old vines. Clay says, “This is the wine that got me into wine. It is a classic Chateauneuf style. When enjoyed with a steak, you will understand when people say ‘wine pairing!’”

Have a charcuterie board planned?

The Pace Langhe Nebbiolo ($16.99) would make an ideal pairing. This wine from Piedmont, Italy, is ruby red in color and despite being a dry wine, it is far from that on the palate, leaving the silky tannins to express themselves alongside flavors of Italian chocolate and cherries. “This is a simple red to pair with cured meats, hamburgers, and pizza,” Clay says.

WINTER 2023–2024 | WOODSTOCK MAGAZINE 59

WINE WATCH

MORE

BUBBLY The Albert Bichot Crémant Bourgogne Brut Réserve ($25) is from Burgundy, France, and is a blend of chardonnay and pinot noir grapes. Champagne can only be called such if it is from that region of France, thus the sparkling wine designation. Clay notes, “This stuff is fantastic, not yeasty, but crisp and dry.

And remember, if you have the right stopper, you can keep sparkling wine alive in the fridge for a week!”

While in Clay’s opinion the Albert stands up against any champagne, if you are looking to splurge, try the Perrier Jouet Grand Brut ($65). It comes in an absolutely beautiful bottle and the typical yeast flavors are balanced with tiny bubbles creating “an almost creamy dense head.”

Whatever this festive season brings for you, Clay offers this advice: “Drink what you like and maybe jump up a price point for the holidays to treat yourself.”

WOODSTOCK BEVERAGE

512 East Woodstock Road Woodstock, VT (802) 457-1326 woodstockbeverage.com

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Going for a Globe Ski racing on the international masters circuit takes a skier around the world Story and photography by Lisa Ballard Left: The author, in Meribel, France, holds her "globe" for second in her age group and a crystal trophy for the 2023 international masters super G title.

Below: The author celebrates a perfect day at the opener in Argentina.

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“B

ring it!” I told myself as my skis accelerated off the first pitch. The alternating red and blue panels flashed by as I turned left and right, trying to eke out every ounce of speed from the flattening terrain. My eyes looked past each consecutive gate, searching for a critical 90-degree turn onto the steepest section of the giant slalom course. I needed to nail that one.

But I never made it to the crux turn.

One moment I barreled down the course.

The next, white flashes blinded me as I catapulted into some tracked up powder. I fought to stay upright as clumps of snow grabbed my legs. When my momentum finally ceased, I slumped to the ground, unable to breathe. My back screamed as if a whip had cracked against it, while my brain sorted out what had happened.

Speeding down a giant slalom at 40plus miles per hour, my hand had inadvertently gone between the two poles holding up the fabric gate-panel. The outer pole instantly snapped around, hitting my back with such force that it knocked the wind out of me. A course official skied up as oxygen flooded back into my lungs. “Sei ferito?” he asked, helping me stand.

I don’t speak Italian, but his meaning was obvious. I gave him a half-hearted thumbs up, wallowing in pain and disappointment as I watched several other racers zip by. Luckily, it was only December.

I would have more chances to ski as fast as I dared.

FIS MASTERS CUP The whack on my back happened in Pila, Italy, while I competed in an early stop on the FIS Masters Cup (FMC). FIS is the French anacronym for Federation Internationale du Ski, the international governing body for all Olympic and World Cup disciplines of skiing and snowboarding. The FMC is the World Cup of masters ski racing. Anyone age 30 and older can race. Like the regular World Cup—the circuit that athletes like Mikaela Shiffrin compete on—racers on

From top: The race hill in Gostling-Hockhar, Austria. The author on the podium (center) during the FIS Masters Criterium (World Championships) in Gostling-Hockhar. The author en route to a slalom win at Beaver Creek, Colorado.

WINTER 2023–2024 | WOODSTOCK MAGAZINE 63

the FMC chase points all winter in hopes of garnering a “globe,” the nickname for a crystal trophy for placing in the top three in one’s age group or a larger globe for earning the top spot in slalom, giant slalom, or super G (there’s no downhill in FMC racing), or the largest globe for becoming the overall champion.

An avid masters racer since 1991, I began dabbling at the FMC in the early 2000s, entering the annual event in the United States in places like Sun Valley, Heavenly, and Mammoth Mountain,

Above: Racers prepare to start during the Pila FIS Masters Cup. The Matterhorn is the highest point on the horizon (center).

Right: The author with local children and team captains from other countries during the opening ceremonies of the masters world championships.

the winter, I had garnered enough points to win my age group and the overall super G title while enjoying many culinary treats and cultural experiences.

I was hooked. Since then, I’ve gone for

Racers on the FMC chase points all winter in hopes of garnering a “globe,” the nickname for a crystal trophy for placing in the top three in one’s age group or a larger globe for earning the top spot in slalom, giant slalom, or super G (there’s no downhill in FMC racing), or the largest globe for becoming the overall champion. resorts that I wanted to ski at anyway. In 2017, a friend nudged me to go to Chile and then to Italy, the Czech Republic, and Austria to race with her. What a chance to travel to some new places! By the end of

a globe every year. Two winters ago, I unexpectedly got within a point of winning the whole thing, which motivated me to try again. My crash in Pila was part of that attempt.

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WINTER GETS ROLLING Racers don’t need to compete in all 40 or so races on the annual FMC schedule.

Only one’s best 12 finishes count. Strategically, when one’s age group is competitive like mine—the top three women in the world are in it—it helps to have at least 12 wins before the Finals, which are always two races in Europe and worth double points. If you want to win a globe, you have to go to the Finals.

Last winter, my quest started in Bariloche, Argentina, in the Patagonian Andes, where the race calendar included two super Gs, two GSs, a slalom, and an alpine combined (one run of super G plus one run of slalom). For those making the long journey, it would be a point bonanza

The author races in the super G during the masters world championships in GostlingHochkar.

due to the small field. However, after five glorious days of training on perfect snow under sunny skies, a storm covered the slopes in new snow and reduced visibility to zero. The fog lingered, causing the super Gs and the alpine combined to be canceled. Instead, we raced in three GSs in a day, then a slalom. We could not see more than five feet down the slope, but I managed to travel home with four gold medals and a happy tummy from gorging on Argentine steak.

The next event for me was in Pila. I chose to go there because there would be another five races in one place, though all the fast women would show up this time. Located in the vast Mont Blanc skiing region, Pila is the traditional European start of the FMC season.

What a place to ski race! The starting gate was so magnificent that it was hard to focus on the course the first time I stood in it. Massive Mont Blanc dominated the alpine panorama to my left, and the iconic Matterhorn towered above the snowcapped peaks to my right. Though I flew home with a sore back, I garnered two more super G golds, bringing my tally to six wins. So far, so good.

My European competitors continued to collect points through January without me, but I had another chance in early February on “home” snow, at Beaver Creek, Colorado. In fact, I hadn’t skied there in 15 years, but at least I could understand the language. What’s more, Beaver Creek was another potenWINTER 2023–2024 | WOODSTOCK MAGAZINE 65

tial points grab, with two super Gs, two GSs, and a slalom on the schedule.

I blasted out of the starting gate for the first super G. “Bring it!” my brain demanded, as it always does, but then it got confused. One moment, I was barreling down the course. The next, I was out of it. Where were the gates? Sometimes a racer must make one turn through two gates. I never saw the second gate and inadvertently turned out of the course, a

Above: Other racers during a training session before the season opener in Bariloche, Argentina.

Right: Muriel Jay of France with her globe for winning overall in 2023.

just click. I posted the third fastest time of the day for the MEN! The other races went well, too—five more golds. I had my 12 wins and then some.

I skied in new places, met new people, and experienced new things. In masters-level competition, the joy comes as much from the journey as the competition. rare mental lapse that left me in as much agony as that whack on the back. I still ponder it two winters later, though the rest of the series in Beaver Creek gave me another four wins for a total of 10 to date.

Immediately after Beaver Creek, I flew to Kimberley, British Columbia, for another five starts. The first GS there was particularly turny, but sometimes things

BACK TO EUROPE The FIS Masters Criterium (World Championships) were scheduled in Gostling-Hockar, Austria, a ski area that I had never heard of before, but since it was just before the Finals in Meribel, France, I decided to go. It would give me time to get over jetlag; it was the world championships, so the most prestigious

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event of the winter; and if I skied well, it might prevent my competition from getting valuable points.

Ski racing is the national pastime in Austria. The event was huge, capped at 400 entries, 100 of which were women.

In the first race, the super G, I felt as if I laid down a perfect run, but got edged out of the gold by an Austrian gal whom I had never heard of and who was not a regular on the FMC circuit. But I was in Austria, a country of many fast skiers.

Luckily, I won the GS the next day, and then took bronze in the slalom.

Each evening after the race, the entire village gathered on the central square for a parade led by a local um-pah band, speeches, dance demonstrations, and the

The author on the super G podium (left) during the masters world championships.

medal-giving ceremony. An enormous jumbotron broadcast the festivities to the enthusiastic crowd. The athletes felt like rock stars. It was worth going to Gostling for the awards party.

I felt confident going into the Finals—a GS and a slalom. It would be a rematch with Muriel Jay, a French woman in my age group who had edged me out of the overall globe the year before. Muriel was nearly unbeatable in slalom, but I was usually faster in GS. If I could win the GS, four globes would be mine—the overall globe, the super G globe, which I had already secured, the GS globe, and my age group.

Call it fate. While flying to Meribel, the airline lost my luggage. A gracious Spanish racer lent me her training skis, a different brand from mine and untuned, but at least I could compete. It didn’t go well. I ended up fifth in the GS. The slalom went even worse, while Muriel skied flawlessly.

My bags finally showed up the night before I flew home. “At least I’ve got something clean to wear,” I thought, emotionally drained. Then I reminded myself that it had been a great winter by all other measures. I skied in new places, met new people, and experienced new things. In masters-level competition, the joy comes as much from the journey as the competition.

The other day, my 90-year-old father asked me why I keep ski racing. “You’ve won so many races,” he said. “You don’t need to prove anything.” Yes, but I love it!

WINTER 2023–2024 | WOODSTOCK MAGAZINE 67

Shop, Dine, and Explore Quechee this Winter

Whisper Hill Bath and Body

Foley Brothers Beer Garden

Vermont Antique Mall

5967 Woodstock Road Quechee, VT (802) 296-SOAP(7627) www.whisperhill.com

20 Quechee Gorge Village Drive Quechee, VT (802) 281-6769 www.foleybrothersbrewing.com/Quechee

Quechee Gorge Village, Route 4 Quechee, VT (802) 281-4147 www.vermontantiquemall.com

Open daily 11am–4:30pm Closed Wed

Wed, Thu, Sun, Mon 10am–6pm Fri & Sat 11am–7pm

Open daily 10am–5pm Free Parking

Val’s Hair Trends

The Vermont Spot

Dr. Randy Schaetzke, DC, DIBAK

6985 Woodstock Road, Route 4 Quechee, VT (802) 295-6150 Mon & Tue 9:30am–7:30pm Wed & Thu 9:30am–5pm By appointment Instagram @vals.hair.trends

Quechee Gorge Village Route 4 Quechee, VT (802) 281-6274

Wholistic Health Services of Vermont

Open daily 9:30am–5:30pm

6985 Woodstock Road (Route 4) Quechee, VT (802) 296-6030 www.doctorrandy.com

Align Inn Vermont

Massage Eminence

Shepard Interior Selections

5817 Woodstock Road Route 4 Quechee, VT (802) 295-7600 www.aligninnvermont.com reservations@aligninn.com

6985 Woodstock Road Quechee, VT (802) 249-4751 www.massageeminence.com

115 Town Line Road Route 4 Quechee, VT

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For appointments call (802) 457-1116 or email Eleanor@shepardvt.com

Shop, Dine, and Explore Quechee this Winter

WhistlePig Whiskey Parlour 1792 Quechee Main Street Quechee, VT (802) 771-4058 WhistlePIgWhiskey.com Open daily 12–9pm Tasting Room and Retail Shop

The Quechee Inn at Marshland Farm

Perfect Fur Salon

Dog and Cat Grooming Quechee Gorge Village, Route 4 Quechee, VT & 676 Hartford Avenue, Hartford, VT (802) 369-2966 www.perfectfursalon.com Mon–Sat 9am–4pm

Vermont Snack Shack 130 Quechee Gorge Village Drive Quechee, VT (802) 280-4188 Facebook @ snacktimeisshacktime Instagram @ vermont_snack_shack Open daily 10am–5pm

Quechee Home

Quechee General Store

Quechee Gorge Village Route 4 Quechee, VT (802) 281-6274

Quechee Gorge Village, Route 4 Quechee, VT (802) 295-1180 www.quecheegeneralstore.com

Open daily 10am–5pm

Open daily 10am–5pm Free Parking

Quechee Cuts

Public House Pub

The Sweet Spot Candy Shoppe

6985 Woodstock Road Quechee, VT (802) 291-2648 Mon 9am–2pm Tue, Wed 9am–4pm Thu 10am–6pm, Fri 9am–4pm Sat 9am–12pm

Route 4 Quechee, VT (802) 295-8500 www.publichousevt.com Always Serving Quality Food, Drink, and Fun FB: PublicHouseVT

Quechee Gorge Village, Route 4 Quechee, VT (802) 281-6274

Restaurant and Tavern

1119 Quechee Main Street Quechee, VT (802) 295-3133 www.quecheeinn.com

Open daily 10am–5pm

WINTER 2023–2024 | WOODSTOCK MAGAZINE 69

GOOD NEIGHBORS

Star Light, Star Bright

Woodstock Rotary Club works to update a beautiful tradition

By Pamela Brown Photos courtesy of Woodstock Rotary Club

T

he Mount Tom Star, a perpetual beacon of light, hope, and welcome that overlooks the village of Woodstock, will stand stronger than ever thanks to the dedicated members of the Rotary Club of Woodstock.

“It’s a special symbol for the town,” says Norm Frates, club member and chairperson of the Mount Tom Renovation Project that was formed to fundraise for the custom design and installation of a new star. “It’s something special and unique to Woodstock. We’re the stewards of it and we want it to last another hundred years.” The committee, along with members of the Rotary Club, includes Jim Giller, Clay Reed, Bob Wagner, Belinda Needham-Shropshire, Kris Lessard (Rotary president), Allen Hall, Bettyanne McGuire, and Rich Koslowski. “The entire Rotary Club is passionately involved and committed to this. Townspeople are really passionate about it too,” Norm adds.

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Top: The star's lofty location allows it to shine down on the people below.

Above: The Green with the Mount Tom Star in the background. Photo by Ken Miner.

After welcoming people home since 1957, the wooden star will be updated to a modern steel version.

the old star and install the new one, tentatively scheduled for May 2024. A large plaque will recognize donors who contribute $500 or more. Fundraising kicked off with a sold-out gala earlier this month at the Woodstock Inn & Resort.

Mount Tom is the site of a cross that was erected in 1944 by a local businessman and an electric company as a welcome home to soldiers returning

“It’s something special and unique to Woodstock.

We’re the stewards of it and we want it to last another hundred years.”

— Norm Frates, chairperson of the Mount Tom Renovation Project

A TREASURED SYMBOL Over time, the all-wood structure has become weathered and run-down. “We’re doing a total renovation to bring it up to a better condition so it will last another hundred years.” A local steel manufacturing company will fabricate a star from anodized galvanized steel. Norm notes it will be the same height and size as the original but will have a cleaner look. The estimated cost is $120,000 to remove

from World War II. A star was added in 1957. Since then, it has served as a steadfast symbol watching over the town and as a special place that’s had its share of engagements, first dates, and other meaningful moments. The star has traditionally been illuminated from Thanksgiving through New Year’s Day. “It was a welcoming sight during the holidays when people would come home or come to visit,” says Norm, noting it now shines

from November, when standard time begins, through March. In 1985, the Rotary Club took over stewardship of the star, and for that past 10 years Norm has been in charge. In 2018, the incandescent lightbulbs were upgraded to energyefficient LED bulbs.

GIVING BACK The project factors into the Rotary Club’s mission of diverse business professionals with a passion for service who work together to make positive changes in the community. “It’s a great club. We take on special projects that need funding and manpower to give back to the Woodstock area.”

The star is special to Norm, who has lived in Woodstock since 1968. “The star is a real cool thing. I’ve always loved it as the fabric of Woodstock,” he says, adding that the committee describes it as part of the town’s identity and a symbol of peace, community, and unity that brightens the skyline and is a guiding light for travelers to find their way home. “It gives you a good feeling in your heart.”

For anyone interested in learning more or donating, email Norm Frates at norm. frates@mascomabank.com.

WINTER 2023–2024 | WOODSTOCK MAGAZINE 71

HAPPENINGS WINTER 2023‒2024 DECEMBER | JANUARY | FEBRUARY Don't miss a winter visit to the farm

DECEMBER 2–3, 16–23, 26–JANUARY 1

Christmas at the Farm

Experience the traditions of a 19th century Vermont Christmas. Visit the authentically decorated farmhouse and the dairy farm for interactive programs, farm life exhibits, holiday programs, and making historic ornaments. Enjoy horse-drawn sleigh or wagon rides December 26 through January 1 (conditions permitting).

Billings Farm & Museum billingsfarm.org

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Online Exhibit: Character: Unforgettable People of Woodstock An ongoing exhibit featuring some of the unforgettable people who have made Woodstock such a special place throughout its history. Several profiles are on display at the museum; we will continue to add individuals from the physical exhibit to our online version.

Woodstock History Center

PENTANGLE ARTS

31 The Green Woodstock, VT (802) 457-3981

pentanglearts.org

woodstockhistorycenter.org

Exhibit: Hindsight 20/20

This exhibit highlights some of the many pivotal events and people in Woodstock’s social, natural, political, and economic history and place them within the context of Vermont’s and the nation’s history.

Woodstock History Center woodstockhistorycenter.org

Exhibit: Contributions and Sacrifice

Explore the contributions and sacrifices made by both soldiers and civilians during World War II through a variety of media and artifacts, including the stories of nine young Woodstock men who never returned home.

Woodstock History Center woodstockhistorycenter.org

DECEMBER 8

Prydein

Town Hall Theatre, 7:30pm

DECEMBER 9

The Yale Alley Cats

Town Hall Theatre, 7:30pm

Exhibit: A Child’s Life

This exhibit highlights aspects of the lives of children in northern New England as well as the family that lived in the Dana House from 1807 to 1945.

DECEMBER 14–15

First We Eat

Filmmaker Suzanne Crocker, living just 300 km from the Arctic Circle, removes absolutely all grocery store food from her house. For one year, she feeds her family of five only food that can be hunted, fished, gathered, grown, or raised around Dawson City, Yukon. Add three skeptical teenagers, one reluctant husband, no salt, no caffeine, no sugar, and -40° temperatures. Ultimately the story becomes a celebration of community and the surprising bounty of food that even a tiny community in the far North can provide. Free virtual screening. firstweeat2023.eventbrite.com

DECEMBER 10

No Strings Marionettes Presents The Snow Maiden Town Hall Theatre, 2pm

DECEMBER 10

Cookies with Santa

Town Hall Theatre, 12:30pm

Woodstock History Center woodstockhistorycenter.org

DECEMBER, FRIDAYS

Qigong with Gerry Sandweiss – Online

Noman Williams Public Library, 8:30am normanwilliams.org

DECEMBER, TUESDAYS

Needlepoint Get-Togethers

Noman Williams Public Library, 10am normanwilliams.org

DECEMBER, TUESDAYS

Baby Story Time

Noman Williams Public Library, 10:30am normanwilliams.org

DECEMBER, JANUARY, FEBRUARY, TUESDAYS

Play Chess & Backgammon!

Noman Williams Public Library, 5pm normanwilliams.org

WINTER 2023–2024 | WOODSTOCK MAGAZINE 73

HAPPENINGS DECEMBER 9

Wassail Weekend Parade Woodstock Village, 2pm woodstockvt.com

DECEMBER, THURSDAYS

Toddler Story Time

Noman Williams Public Library, 10:30am normanwilliams.org

DECEMBER, THURSDAYS

DECEMBER 2–3

Woodstock VT Film Series: Breaking the News Billings Farm & Museum, 3pm billingsfarm.org

Knitters Meet Up

Norman Williams Public Library, 2pm

THROUGH DECEMBER 3

Holiday Shopping in the Billings Farm & Museum Gift Shop

The Billings Farm & Museum Gift Shop is offering a friends and neighbors 20 percent discount. Members can combine this with their member discount for 30 percent off gift shop items.

Billings Farm & Museum billingsfarm.org

normanwilliams.org

DECEMBER, THURSDAYS

Play Bridge at Norman Williams!

Norman Williams Public Library, 2pm normanwilliams.org

DECEMBER 2–3, 16–23, 26–JANUARY 1

Christmas at the Farm Billings Farm & Museum billingsfarm.org

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DECEMBER 2

Introduction to Emotional Freedom Technique Artistree, 11am artistreevt.org

DECEMBER 2, 16

Cook It Speak It: Japanese is on the Menu: Shiratama Dessert Artistree, 11am artistreevt.org

DECEMBER 4, 18

Poetry Group

Noman Williams Public Library, 4pm normanwilliams.org

DECEMBER 8–10

Wassail Weekend

Billings Farm & Museum billingsfarm.org

DECEMBER 8–9

DECEMBER 9

BarnArts Presents Holiday Cabaret: Let It Snow!

Wassail Weekend Rare & Vintage Book Sale

BarnArts Little Theater, 6pm

Noman Williams Public Library, 10am–4pm

barnarts.org

normanwilliams.org

TEAGO GENERAL STORE A warm friendly experience with made to order breakfast and deli sandwiches, salads and hot specials daily.

We bake everything from scratch and take special orders too!

802-457-1626 Open: Monday - Friday, 7am - 5pm, deli closes at 3.

Saturday, 8am - 4pm, breakfast till noon, deli closes at 3. Closed on Sundays.

WINTER 2023–2024 | WOODSTOCK MAGAZINE 75

HAPPENINGS

DECEMBER 9

Wrensong Presents Songs of the Season Noman Williams Public Library, 3pm normanwilliams.org

DECEMBER 8

DECEMBER 14

DECEMBER 15

Children’s Stories for December Holidays

Homeschool Club: Holiday Celebrations Then and Now

BarnArts Presents Winter Carols

normanwilliams.org

billingsfarm.org

barnarts.org

DECEMBER 14

DECEMBER 18

Noman Williams Public Library, 4pm

DECEMBER 9

Ham Gillett Presents Dylan Thomas’s Lyrical Portrait of Holidays Past

Billings Farm & Museum, 10am

First Universalist Church of Barnard, 7pm

Open Mic Night

Poetry Group

artistreevt.org

normanwilliams.org

Artistree, 7pm

Noman Williams Public Library, 4pm

Noman Williams Public Library, 12 & 1pm normanwilliams.org

DECEMBER 9

Wassail Weekend Parade Woodstock Village, 2pm woodstockvt.com

DECEMBER 12

What’s on Your Nightstand?

The Not-a-Book-Club Book Club

Noman Williams Public Library, 10:30am normanwilliams.org

DECEMBER 12

Recite! Poetry Sharing Evening

Noman Williams Public Library, 5:30pm normanwilliams.org

DECEMBER 13

Mending Circle

Noman Williams Public Library, 2pm normanwilliams.org

DECEMBER 15

Teens Only: Tiny Houses, Wreaths & Garland

Artistree, 6pm artistreevt.org

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DECEMBER 16–17

Woodstock VT Film Series: Joonam Billings Farm & Museum, 3pm billingsfarm.org

DECEMBER 18, JANUARY 16, FEBRUARY 20

Italian Film Series

Noman Williams Public Library, 4pm normanwilliams.org

DECEMBER 20

Zentangle Workshops

Noman Williams Public Library, 4pm normanwilliams.org

JANUARY 13–14

Woodstock VT Film Series: Joan Baez: I Am a Noise Billings Farm & Museum billingsfarm.org

DECEMBER 20

Acoustic Jam Session Artistree, 6:30pm artistreevt.org

DECEMBER 30–31

Woodstock VT Film Series: Pianoforte Billings Farm & Museum, 3pm billingsfarm.org

DECEMBER 21

Green Books Discussion Group: Focus on the Environment and Sustainability

Fourteen www.gildededgeframing.com Wednesday

Noman Williams Public Library, 3pm normanwilliams.org

WINTER 2023–2024 | WOODSTOCK MAGAZINE 77

HAPPENINGS

FEBRUARY 17–25

Magic of Maple

Billings Farm & Museum billingsfarm.org

DECEMBER 26

Read Between the Lines: Fiction Discussion Group

Noman Williams Public Library, 6pm normanwilliams.org

JANUARY 18

Homeschool Club: Sheep and Wool

Billings Farm & Museum, 10am billingsfarm.org

FEBRUARY 3–4

Woodstock VT Film Series: Close to Vermeer Billings Farm & Museum, 3pm billingsfarm.org

FEBRUARY 15

Homeschool Club: Marvelous Maple

Billings Farm & Museum, 10am billingsfarm.org

FEBRUARY 17–18

Woodstock VT Film Series: It Ain’t Over Billings Farm & Museum, 3pm billingsfarm.org 78 FIND WOODSTOCK MAGAZINE AT WWW.GREATERUPPERVALLEY.COM

JANUARY 27–28

Woodstock VT Film Series: All That Breathes Billings Farm & Museum, 3pm billingsfarm.org

FIND MORE EVENTS ONLINE

greateruppervalley.com

ADVERTISERS INDEX For more information about print and online advertising opportunities, contact Bob Frisch at (603) 867-9339 or email rcfrisch1@comcast.net.

121 Home ..............................................................................................6 37 Central Clothiers .......................................................................44 4orty Bridge Boutique..................................................................55 506 on the River Inn .....................................................................46 Addison West....................................................................................54 Align Inn Vermont......................................................................... 68 Anichini ............................................................................................... 61 Art in the Village.............................................................................55 Artisans’ Gallery..............................................................................55 Au Comptoir ......................................................................................44 Barnard Inn Restaurant ..............................................................44 Barrie Fisher Photo & Gallery ..................................................54 Billings Farm & Museum.............................................................29 Brown Furniture ................................................................................8 Carolyn Elegi Fine Art ..................................................................... 2 Clover Gift Shop ..............................................................................44 Collective–The Art of Craft .........................................................45 Crown Point Select .......................................................................... 9 Deidre Donnelly Jewelry .............................................................45 Donald J. Neely-Hanover Orthodontics...............................23 Dr. Randy Schaetzke, DC, DIBAK.............................................. 68 Elevation Clothing.......................................................................... 14 Ennis Construction ........................................................................29 Evans Paintings & Gallery .......................................................... 47 FH Gillingham & Sons..................................................................45 Fifth Quarter Butcher Shop.......................................................54 Finery by Sasha Walsh .................................................................55 Focus–A Vermont Gallery ...........................................................65 Foley Brothers Beer Garden..................................................... 68 Frameworks Studio of Woodstock .........................................44 GeoBarns..........................................................................Back cover Gilberte Interiors ............................................................................ 17 Gilded Edge Custom Picture Framing................................... 77 Got It Covered Upholstery ..........................................................11 Green Mountain Fireplace Specialties................................... 4 Hull Maynard Hersey Insurance.............................................. 15 Inklings Children’s Books ...........................................................54

Jackson House Inn......................................................................... 31 Jake’s Quechee Market ................................................................36 Jeff Wilmot Painting & Wallpapering ................................... 60 Jim Westphalen Fine Art ............................................................. 67 Kedron Valley Inn........................................................................... 37 Kendal at Hanover.........................................................................65 Kimball Union ..................................................................................30 Massage Eminence ....................................................................... 68 Mertens House ................................................................................ 77 Mon Vert Café...................................................................................44 Moosewalk Studios & Gallery ..................................................55 NT Ferro Estate & Custom Jewelers............................25 & 45 Ottauquechee Health Foundation.........................................43 Pentangle Arts ................................................................................. 16 Perfect Fur Salon ............................................................................69 Pizza Chef...........................................................................................46 Product Think Tank........................................................................54 Quechee Cuts ...................................................................................69 Quechee General Store ...............................................................69 Quechee Home, Porch & Closet..............................................69 R.T. Home............................................................................................45 Real Broker LLC ................................................................................. 5 Red Wagon Toy Co..........................................................................46 Salt & Sand Studios...........................................................54 & 55 Saskadena Six ..................................................................................59 Seniors Helping Seniors ............................................................. 67 Shaker Hill Granite ........................................................................30 Shepard Interior Selections..................................................... 68 Simple Energy .................................................................................... 7 Sleep Woodstock Motel...............................................................44 Snyder Donegan Real Estate Group.....Inside front cover Someday Boutique........................................................................55 Soulfully Good Café ......................................................................46 Splendid Bakes................................................................................46 Splendid Chaos ...............................................................................46 Squechee Clean ..............................................................................36 Stephanie Grace Ceramics.........................................................54

Sunday Drive ....................................................................................78 Teago General Store...................................................................... 75 The Collection..................................................................................54 The Lincoln Inn.................................................................................. 3 The Local: Wine & Beer ...............................................................55 The Mad Rover.................................................................................55 The Prince and The Pauper.......................................................44 The Public House ...........................................................................69 The Quechee Club.............................................................................1 The Quechee Inn at Marshland Farm...................................69 The Sweet Spot ....................................................................47 & 69 The Vermont Horse Country Store.........................................45 The Vermont Spot ......................................................................... 68 The Village Inn of Woodstock ..................................................45 The Woodstocker Bed & Breakfast........................................45 The Yankee Bookshop..................................................................46 Unicorn................................................................................................45 Union Arena......................................................................................46 USA Brands/Vermont Flannel.................................................. 19 VINS...................................................................................................... 60 Valley Floors ..................................................................................... 27 Val’s Hair Trends............................................................................ 68 Vermont Antique Mall................................................................. 68 Vermont Snack Shack ..................................................................69 Vermont Spirits ............................................................................... 13 WISE ...................................................................................................... 47 Whippletree Designs.....................................................................54 Whisper Hill Bath and Body..................................................... 68 WhistlePig Whiskey Parlour ......................................................69 Williamson Group Sotheby’s International Realty.................................. Inside back cover Windsor Station ..............................................................................43 Woodstock Area Chamber of Commerce ................. 19 & 47 Woodstock Beverage ....................................................................23 Woodstock Farmers’ Market...................................................... 14 Woodstock Recreation Center..................................................46 Woodstock Scoops.........................................................................46 Woody’s Mercantile.......................................................................44

GET CONNECTED Get listed on the greateruppervalley.com BUSINESS DIRECTORY and you will also be included on our printed list in every issue of WOODSTOCK MAGAZINE. (See page 19.)

HERE’S HOW!

Email Bob Frisch at rcfrisch1@comcast.net, or call Bob at (603) 867-9339.

Find out how you can connect with our readers. It’s easy, inexpensive, and another way to reach an affluent and educated audience.

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WINTER 2023–2024 | WOODSTOCK MAGAZINE 79

LAST GLANCE

The woods are lovely, dark and deep But I have promises to keep And miles to go before I sleep.

— Robert Frost, “Stopping by Woods on a Snowy Evening”

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Woodstock Magazine 135 Lyme Road Hanover, NH 03755